As State officials were approached about trying to salvage Birmingham-Southern, the  college had already established a dismal financial track record of the following:  Significant ill-considered borrowing to build facilities from 2004-2010 Miscalculating millions of dollars in Pell Grant awards  Depleting its endowment fund which had been $130 million in 2000 Downgrading of its bonds to […]

Four hundred years ago, King James I of England convened his last parliament, the most significant and enduring legacy of which was the “Statute of Monopolies.” This act was both a restriction on royal prerogative and the beginning of legal protection for patents and intellectual property. Prior to this act, the crown arbitrarily granted monopolies […]

Our Southern Border is wide open, and Secretary Mayorkas has done absolutely nothing to bring relief to the crisis the Biden administration has created. President Biden inherited the lowest rate of illegal immigration in 45 years, and 3 years into his presidency, we are seeing the highest-ever rate of illegal immigrants pouring into our country.  […]

Over the last year, the House Committee on Homeland Security has conducted an investigation into the causes and costs of the crisis at our southern border. That investigation laid bare the mistakes, recklessness, and irresponsibility of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and the Biden Administration.  There are two indisputable facts that came […]

Alabama’s leaders are rightly focused on increasing our state’s labor force participation. At a time when three quarters of in-demand, livable wage jobs require a postsecondary credential, we at the Alabama Community College System believe a bold and foundational change that centers on high school students and adults is needed. We can deliver it. Our plan […]

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Bryan Brinyark, and I am currently the newest member of the Alabama Legislature. Kyle South, who previously held my seat in the Alabama House of Representatives, resigned on June 30th, 2023. The following week, Governor Ivey set the primary special election for September 26th […]

The Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature is upon us. Though the only statutory requirement of our state legislature is to pass balanced budgets, there will be literally hundreds of bills considered and debated as our elected leadership moves through the session. It’s difficult for even the most seasoned legislator to remain focused on specific […]

When it comes to being in touch with the issues facing the people of Alabama and effectively serving them, the state legislature stands unrivaled. Given the chaos in D.C., the lack of direction from government agencies, and Joe Biden’s blatant ignorance, the responsibility falls solely on state governments to restore order, protect our rights, and […]

The 2024 legislative session begins next week. It will be difficult to replicate the success of last year’s regular session. The 2023 year was a premier year for any first year of a quadrennium. Indeed, it may be one of the most momentous in state history. It was historic because of the vast amount of […]

Encouraging and promoting the active engagement of church members in voting is a legitimate goal. One effective strategy to achieve this is by dedicating a designated Sunday, known as “Voter Registration Sunday,” to encourage the registration of voters. However, it is important to emphasize that endorsing specific political candidates under the church’s name can pose […]

Alabama is a conservative state, and the citizens of our state have never shied away from standing up for their values. In Alabama, there are bedrock principles by which we live and govern. We’re steadfast in our faith in God. We defend the rule of law. We protect individual freedoms and innocent life. We work […]

For 40 years, I worked in education as a teacher, coach, and mentor. I have watched the school choice movement grow and change many students’ lives. Over the past few weeks, I am proud to have been able to recognize National School Choice Week on the Senate floor, host a roundtable discussion with parents from across the country, and visit […]

In the early 1990s and prior, Alabama’s top industry was textiles, which was evidenced by the low-wage sock mills that peppered the state along with larger facilities making blue jeans, athletic wear, and other apparel items. But in 1993, Mercedes shocked the world and launched a transformation that continues to benefit our state today when […]

The federal government issues thousands of pages of new regulations annually (over 90,00 in the Federal Register in 2023). The costs of regulation are largely hidden but can be estimated them. A recent study from the National Association of Manufacturers puts the total at $3.1 trillion annually, over 10% of GDP. The study was undertaken […]

With chaos around the world and constant threats here at home, the President’s number one priority should be supporting our national defense and being a leader on the global stage. Our enemies are becoming bolder and more capable, and the United States absolutely must continue maintaining a dominant military posture to protect against any threats. […]

The most interesting race to watch this year in Alabama will be for the newly drawn Second Congressional District. The new seat was drawn by the federal courts to create a second majority minority district in Alabama. Currently, we have six Republicans and one Democrat representing Alabama in Washington. If a Democrat wins the seat, […]

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. spoke to students and voters at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday. On stage, the dynastic political candidate began illustrating his personal connections to the Yellowhammer State, noting that he lived in Alabama on two separate occasions – once in 1972, as he was involved in […]

Since Joe Biden took office, his Administration has been working around the clock to fundamentally change America’s K-12 education system so they can indoctrinate our school-aged children with their radical agenda and woke ideology. I’ve seen so many things out of this Administration that bother me greatly, especially when they labeled concerned and involved parents […]

This is a presidential election year. Our GOP Presidential Primary is our election in the Heart of Dixie. We are a one party state, especially in presidential races. Alabama is one of a group of states that will hold its primary early, March 5 to be exact. Therefore, we will be going to the polls […]

Gambling is illegal in the state of Alabama, but let’s face the facts: our weak, confusing laws are not stopping Alabamians from participating or bad actors from profiting.  Over the course of the last year, I visited 21 counties and well over 40 illegal facilities and gained a first-hand perspective of what is going on […]

As an Alabama business leader and a proud American, I’ve seen firsthand the power of innovation and hard work in driving success. It’s from this vantage point of real-world experience that I over a fresh approach to rejuvenating our nation’s economy. Picture our economy as a classic car, a symbol of American prowess. Lately, it’s […]

This past week, Sens. Chuck Schumer and James Lankford proposed their idea of a “border deal” that should really be described as an “illegal immigrant deal.” This proposed deal includes providing incompetent illegal aliens with legal counsel on the American taxpayers’ dime, allows 5,000 immigrants per day into the United States, and increases green cards […]

As the race for Alabama Chief Justice heats up between Sarah Stewart and Bryan Taylor, we wonder about the future of our state Supreme Court. We have enjoyed conservative leadership for many years. Now, do we know where the candidates stand? I have known and worked with Mr. Taylor for years and know him to […]

Technology can be a wonderful thing. It can make our lives easier; it can help us solve complex problems; it can even save lives.  But we must remember that while technology can be used to solve many of our old problems, it always seems to create a new set of problems that must be addressed. […]